BBC told: Don’t ditch free TV licences for the over-75s

THE BBC has been urged by ministers to continue providing free TV licences for the over-75s.

The government-funded scheme, which provides free TV licences to older viewers, comes to an end in June 2020.

The BBC has launched a consultation exercise on its future but warned that continuing with the scheme could cost around a fifth of the budget.

At question time in the Lords, Digital, Culture, Media and Sport minister Lord Ashton of Hyde confirmed that responsibility for the concession would transfer to the BBC in 2020.

“We have been clear on our expectation for the BBC to continue this concession,” he said.

Lord Ashton said the BBC was doing exactly what it agreed under the last funding settlement.

The government agreed to the licence fee increasing in line with inflation for five years.

“In return, the BBC agreed to take on this concession,” he said. “We’ve been clear that we expect the BBC to continue with this important concession.”

But Liberal Democrat Lord Foster of Bath asked: “Why should the BBC be forced to make a social policy decision that should be the remit of government to make?

“If the government wants the licence fee protection for over-75s surely it should pay for it, not the BBC.”